Household pedestal fan

ABSTRACT

A fan includes a ventilation unit with a rotatable impeller, at least one pedestal, a control unit rigidly connected to the pedestal, with at least one control knob for the ventilation unit, an electrical aerosol generation device with a coupling device arranged such that it couples with a removable reservoir, wherein the control unit includes a cavity arranged to receive the removable reservoir when the latter is coupled with the coupling system, and a movable cover arranged to close the cavity.

This invention concerns in general a household fan, with a function of dispersion of a repellent.

In the prior art we know of fans with devices for production and dispersion of an aerosol in the ventilation air flow, such as that presented in the document JP 2011137396A, with an aerosol production unit on a protective grille of the impeller. On the other hand, this system in particular has the disadvantage of being complex, since it is necessary to load the aerosol production unit on the protective grille, and this further disturbs the ventilation airflow by forming an obstacle just in front of the impeller.

One goal of this invention is to respond to the disadvantages of the prior art mentioned above and in particular, first of all, to propose a fan with an aerosol production unit, which is simple to manufacture and does not disturb the ventilation airflow.

To this end, a first aspect of the invention concerns a fan comprising:

-   a ventilation unit with a rotatable impeller, -   at least one pedestal, -   a control unit rigidly connected to the pedestal, with at least one     control knob for the ventilation unit, -   an electrical aerosol generation device with a coupling means     arranged such that it couples with a removable reservoir,     characterized in that the control unit comprises a cavity arranged     to receive the removable reservoir when the latter is coupled with     the coupling means, and a movable lid arranged to close the cavity.     The cavity of the electrical aerosol generation device is directly     integrated in the control unit. Thus, it is not necessary to provide     for a specific attachment for the electrical aerosol generation     device (it is rigidly connected to the control unit): the     manufacture is simplified. In addition, the electrical aerosol     generation device is not in the ventilation airflow (since it is     rigidly connected to the control unit attached to the pedestal), and     thus it does not disturb the ventilation airflow.

Advantageously, the impeller has a radius, and the control unit forms an assembly distinct from the ventilation unit and separated from the ventilation unit by a distance that is greater than the radius of the impeller. In other words, the control unit forms a block on which is found at least one control knob (an on/off knob, and/or a ventilation speed selector knob) and the cavity for the removable reservoir. This block is separated by a distance greater than the radius of the impeller (in relation to the axis of rotation of the impeller) in order to allow direct access to the device controls, and to avoid disturbing the ventilation flow.

Advantageously, the ventilation unit is mounted such that it can pivot about the pedestal, the fan comprises an oscillation unit, arranged to make the ventilation unit oscillate about a middle position, and the control unit rigidly connected to the pedestal is static. The control unit is not carried with the ventilation unit in its oscillatory sweeping motion. The control unit thus remains rigidly connected and anchored to the pedestal, so the design is simplified.

Advantageously, the impeller has a diameter, and the cavity is separated from the ventilation unit by a distance that is smaller than the diameter of the impeller, but greater than the radius of the impeller. Thus, the cavity is situated in an area close to the impeller, where the ventilation airflow is significant, such that the aerosol produced by the electrical aerosol generation device is carried with the airflow, for efficient diffusion in the room where the fan is located.

Advantageously, the movable lid comprises a plurality of holes in order to allow the aerosol to be carried toward the impeller. Even if the removable reservoir is “enclosed” in the cavity, the aerosol may be carried with the airflow through holes in the movable lid.

Advantageously, the control unit comprises a bottom wall forming the cavity and comprising at least one orifice to enable an airflow to cross the cavity closed by the movable lid. Because of the holes on the movable lid and on the bottom wall of the cavity, the airflow can cross the cavity from one end to the other and carry the aerosol produced by the electrical aerosol generation device.

Advantageously, the coupling means can pivot in relation to the control unit, so as to allow the removable reservoir coupled to the coupling means to be released from the cavity. The placement is simplified for the user, who can make the removable reservoir pivot and partially remove it from the cavity to grasp it and couple it to or uncouple it from the coupling means. One could envision a screw connection, or a quarter turn connection, for example, between the removable reservoir and the coupling means.

Advantageously, the coupling means comprises two threading portions, each mounted on an elastic tab, in order to couple with the removable reservoir. The elastic tabs may then be deformed in order to receive a removable reservoir which would have a coupling interface a bit larger than the one provided for using the nominal value. For example, a coupling with a nominal diameter of 22 mm may be provided for, and the elastic tabs may permit coupling with a removable reservoir having a diameter of 23 mm, for example. This makes it possible to receive a plurality of removable reservoirs and increase the diversity of consumables accepted by the fan.

Advantageously, the fan comprises a removable adapter, arranged such that it couples with the coupling means, so as to offer an attachment interface for the removable reservoir that is different from that of the coupling means. This makes it possible to receive a plurality of removable reservoirs and further to increase the diversity of consumables accepted by the fan.

Advantageously, the removable adapter comprises two threading portions, each mounted on a flexible tab, in order to couple with the removable reservoir. The flexible tabs may then be deformed in order to receive a removable reservoir which would have a coupling interface a bit larger than the one provided for using the nominal value. For example, a coupling with a nominal diameter of 18 mm may be provided for, and the flexible tabs may permit coupling with a removable reservoir having a diameter of 19 mm, for example. This makes it possible to receive a plurality of removable reservoirs and increase the diversity of consumables accepted by the fan.

Advantageously, the removable reservoir contains a liquid that produces an insect-repelling aerosol. One could also provide for a perfumed liquid.

Advantageously, the electrical aerosol generation device comprises a heating resistor.

Advantageously, the control unit comprises a control knob for the electrical aerosol generation device.

Other characteristics and advantages of this invention will be seen more clearly by reading the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, provided as a non-restrictive example, and illustrated by the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents a general view of a fan according to the invention and a detailed view of a control knob;

FIG. 2 represents a series of details of the fan in FIG. 1, at the level of an electrical aerosol generation device;

FIG. 3 represents a removable adapter of the electrical aerosol generation device.

FIG. 1 represents a fan comprising a ventilation unit 10 with a rotatable impeller 11, at least one pedestal 30 (formed by a base 32 and a mount 31), a control unit 20 rigidly connected to the pedestal 30 with a control knob 21 for the ventilation unit, an electrical aerosol generation device 22 with a coupling means 24 (visible in FIG. 2) arranged such that it couples with a removable reservoir 27 (visible in FIG. 2). The control unit 20 comprises a cavity 23 (visible in FIG. 2) arranged to receive the removable reservoir 27 when the latter is coupled with the coupling means 24, and a movable lid 25 (visible in FIG. 2) arranged to close the cavity 23.

The ventilation unit 10 thus comprises the impeller 11 to create a ventilation airflow, it is also mounted such that it can pivot with respect to the mount 31 to be able to oscillate about a middle position, so as to increase the volume swept by the ventilation airflow if needed. In this regard, it is possible to provide for an oscillation mechanism that can be activated or not, so as to offer the user the ability to use the fan with the static or oscillating ventilation unit 10.

The ventilation unit 10 is distinct from the control unit 20. The control unit 20 is located a good distance away from the ventilation unit, that is, the control unit 20 is below the protective grille of the impeller 11. This makes it easy to access the control knob, as well as the cavity 23 in order to replace the removable reservoir 27. The cavity is found just below the impeller 11, so that the ventilation airflow is significant in this zone, and can efficiently carry the aerosol generated.

The aerosol created from the liquid in the removable reservoir 27 may be an insect repellent (for mosquitoes), but also a perfume or a substance intended to give a particular olfactory atmosphere to the room where the fan is used.

As shown in the right view in FIG. 1, the control unit comprises the control knob 21 which makes it possible to start up the ventilation unit, but also to regulate the ventilation speed.

FIG. 2 shows in detail the electrical aerosol generation device 22, and in particular a series of views which shows the installation of the removable reservoir 27 in the cavity 23.

In this regard, the user must open the cavity 23 by tipping the movable lid 25, in order to be able to couple the removable reservoir 27 to the coupling means 24 by screwing it, and then recloses the movable lid 25. As shown in the last view, elastic couplings could be provided for in order to generate an engagement sound.

Once the removable reservoir is installed, the user can turn on the electrical aerosol generation device 22 by actuating a knob 26 on the control unit 20. The liquid from the removable reservoir 27 is conducted by capillarity toward a heating resistor, which produces a vapor by evaporation/vaporization or a generation of fine droplets which are then carried in the ventilation airflow. In fact, the movable lid 25, and the bottom wall of the cavity 23 are perforated, which allows an airflow to cross the cavity 23.

FIG. 3 represents a removable adapter 28 which can couple with the coupling means 24 in order to increase the types of removable reservoirs 27 that can be used.

In this regard, the removable adapter 28 comprises:

-   a threaded portion 28 a which is screwed into the coupling means 24, -   two flexible tabs 28 b, -   two threading portions 28 c, each arranged on a flexible tab 28 b.

Consequently, the removable adapter 28 can receive, by screwing, removable reservoirs with a nominal diameter of 18 mm for example, but also 19 mm if needed, because the flexible pads 28 b may diverge.

The coupling means 24 also comprises two elastic tabs each having a threading portion so as to be able to couple with, for example a removable reservoir 27 with a nominal diameter of 22 mm, but also a removable reservoir 27 having a diameter of 23 mm.

It will be understood that various modifications and/or improvements obvious to the person skilled in the art may be made to various embodiments of the invention described in this description without departing from the context of the invention defined by the attached claims. 

1. Fan comprising: a ventilation unit with a rotatable impeller, at least one pedestal, a control unit rigidly connected to the pedestal, with at least one control knob for the ventilation unit, an electrical aerosol generation device with a coupling means arranged such that it couples with a removable reservoir, wherein the control unit comprises a cavity arranged to receive the removable reservoir when the removable reservoir is coupled with the coupling means, and a movable cover arranged to close the cavity.
 2. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation unit is mounted such that the ventilation unit is pivotable about the pedestal, the fan comprising an oscillation unit, arranged to make the ventilation unit oscillate about a middle position, and wherein the control unit rigidly connected to the pedestal is static.
 3. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the impeller has a diameter, and wherein the cavity is separated from the ventilation unit by a distance that is smaller than the diameter of the impeller.
 4. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the movable cover comprises a plurality of holes in order to allow the aerosol to be carried toward the impeller.
 5. The fan according to claim 1, the control unit comprises a bottom wall forming the cavity and comprising at least one orifice to enable an airflow to cross the cavity closed by the movable cover.
 6. The fan according to claim 1, in which wherein the coupling means is pivotable in relation to the control unit, so as to allow the removable reservoir coupled to the coupling means to be released from the cavity.
 7. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the coupling means comprises two threading portions, each one mounted on an elastic tab.
 8. The fan according to claim 1, comprising a removable adapter, arranged such that the removable adapter couples with the coupling means, so as to offer an attachment interface for the removable reservoir that is different from that of the coupling means.
 9. The fan according to claim 8, wherein the removable adapter comprises two threading portions, each one mounted on an elastic tab.
 10. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the removable reservoir comprises a liquid which produces an insect-repelling aerosol.
 11. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the electrical aerosol generation device comprises a heating resistor.
 12. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a control knob for the electrical aerosol generation device. 